Apparatus for evaporating and distilling



1945- E. P. WORTHEN ET AL 2,368,588

APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING Fi-led May 27, 1942 N A 9 3| W N m 5 Sheets-Sheet l Ld Fir/aw, rs lwwjzfumanu Jan. 30, 1945. E. P. WORTHEN ET AL APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING Filed May 27, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NN Q N ii: m i W? 6 gin 0mm Jan 30, 1945. E. P. WORTHEN ET AL 2,368,588

APPARATUS FbR EVAPQRATING AND DISTILLING V Fil'ed May 27, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet s II: I I I I l Jan. 30, 1945. E. P. WORTHEN ETAL 2,368,588

APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND DISTILLING Filed May 27, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 il ol'm FemrSbarb0l0; SZpfiew0.Pamam E. P. WORTHEN ET AL APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING DISTILLING Y Jan. 30, 1945.

F'iled May 2'7, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sea mm. A

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Patented Jan. .30, 1945 UNITED smes PATENT OFFICE" v arraaaros gp mgmrmo AND Application May 27,1942,'sene1 No. 444ml;

6 Claims. (Cl- 282-174) This invention relates to an improved apparatus for evaporating and distilling, and especially to such apparatus as is intended for use on board ships and the like where it is necessary to supply the fresh or pure water demands from sea water. Such demands are occasioned by the losses of fresh water occurring due to the operation of the ship's machinery, such as condenser, turbine, boiler, auxiliary engines, and the like, together with the ships human needs, such as drinking water.

The invention relates more particularly to changes anu improvements in the means for the production of pure water in evaporating and distilling apparatus and in, the embodiment of said means as an improvement afiecting the method of operation of the apparatus shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. Re. 21,129, granted to Benjamin Fox et al. June 27, 1939, and improvement thereon shown and described in co-pending patent application Serial No. 441,184, filed April 30, 1942, by one Eugene Porter Worthen.

The said co-pending application Serial-No. 441,184 shows and discloses feed control means whereby liquid may be supplied to the evaporating and distilling apparatus in constant substantial excess of that removed by evaporation in said apparatus, with the result that a considerable increase in' generated vapor of permissible salinity is possible over that possible in an apparatus of equal volumetric size ,built according to the said U. S.- Letters Patent No. Re. 21,129.

Accordingly, the main object of our invention is to provide in a water evaporating and distilling apparatus highly efiicient means for separating water containing salt from the vapor generated within said apparatus and which is characterized particularly by novel separating elements and by having in a single separating unit a plurality of qualitative drainage means to the body of distilland below.

In our improved design of apparatus for evaporating and distilling sea-water we have three stages of qualitative precipitation from the vapor generated therein as follows: First, as the generated vapor rises within the evaporator chamber it enters the inlet to our improved separator and in the entrance region thereof separating elements are provided which operate to remove a large portion of the liquid and of any detritus entrained in the generated vapor. These entrance elements discharge their entrained liquid and detritus directly to the body of the distilland below. Second, we provide interior separating elementswhich entrain the remaining liquid and detritus in suspension within the vapor and discharge them I to a collecting chamber within the separator and from thence they are discharged downward by means of a pipe to within the body of the distilland below. Third, the purified vapor leaving the separator enters the feed water heater compartment and is there condensed, and the condensatethereof is piped 011 for use.

We have found that the efilciencyof our design of separator with its qualitative plural discharges is suflicient to eliminate the need of intermediate baffles usually placed between the separator and the surface of the distilland. We thus have an attendant saving in we'ightof apparatus.

Another object, therefore, of our invention is to eliminate the need of intermediate bame means between the separator attached to the feed heater means and the body of distilland whereby weight is saved as well as contributing to an extremely stable and easily operated plant.

We have also found that by providing the entrance separating elements with their iree discharge direct to the body of the distilland below that the largest part of the liquid and particularly of the solid detritus is therein eliminated from the generated vapor, which leaves the interior separating elements-free of flooding and therefore more eiiicient in the final purification of the generated vapor on its way to condensation in the feed heater or distilling chambers.

It is a further object, therefore, of our invention to provide novel separating elements of high efficiency for efiecting entrainment of water containing salt rapidly with respect to their extent and without atomization within the vapor:

stream.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustratingthe preferred embodiment of our invention and. wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the separator unit;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure I viewed in the direction of the arrows,

and with certain of the division plates removed; Fig. 3 is a section taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2 viewed in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a left end side elevation; and

Fig. 5 is a drawing representing in diagrammatic form the flow system of the liquids to be distilled, the heating fluids therefor, and the condensate collecting means in an evaporating and distilling apparatus embodying our invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the numeral I designates the separator unit comprising a casing ll preferably made of brass plates brazed together. casing l I is a box-like structure comprising the separating compartment I2 and the' casing structure I3.

The separating compartment I2 is a built-up unitary structure comprising a top plate I4, drain plate I5, side plates I6, front plate Il, splash plate I8, division plates 19,.division plates 20, and bafile hooks 2I, 22, and 23. The top plate I4 and the drain plate I5 have provided therein a plurality of spaced slots 24 (Figure 2). The division plates I9 and 20 have along their top and bottom edges lugs 25 spaced lengthwise to register with the slots 24. By placing the lugs 25 in their re= spective slots, and bending them over and brazing them in place, as shown in Figure 3 at 26, the division plates I9 and 20 are held in alternate spaced vertical parallel relation between the top plate I4 and the drain plate I5. The drain plate I5 is also provided with openings 21 along the rear edge for a p pose to be hereinafter described. Thebafiie hooks 2 I, 22, and 23 are brazed to the inner sides of the side plates I6 and to both sides of the division plates lS and 25 in alternate staggered relationship. The baffl hooks 22 are positioned inthe inlet opening 28 of the separatingcompartment I2 and extendvertically between the top plate I4 and the splash plate I3. The inlet opening 28 is preferably in height about two-thirds that of the separating compartment I2. The splash plate I8 is provided with openings 29 in registry with and is brazed to the bottom ends of the bafile hooks 2 I' for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The front plate I l is set in from the front edges of the top, drain, and side plates a distance equal to the width of the splash plate I8 for a purpose to .be hereinafter described. The baflle'hooks 22 and 23 extend between the top plate I4 and the drain plate I5.

It will be noted that the division plates l9 and 20 with side plates I6 form a series of vertical parallel narrow passageways 30 extending from the front to the rear of the separating compartment I2. It willalso be noted that the alternate staggered positioning of the baflle hooks between these plates forms a sinuous continuous passageway somewhat as indicated by the dot-and-dash line 3-3 of Figure 2', and that opposed to each turn of the sinuous passageway are forewalls 3|, of each of the bafile hooks. The bafile hooks 2i and 22 each having attaching Wallsv 32 while baffle hooks 23 have attaching walls 33 and rear hook walls 34 and 35. In each case the forewalls are spaced from and joined to the attaching walls by an integral sloping wall 36. ,The forewalls and attaching walls are parallel to each other and to the division Walls and side walls. There is thus formed between the bafile hooks and the walls to which they are attached right trapeziumshaped pockets 3'! having their acute angled end closed. The Slope ofthe walls 36 with respect to the division walls and side walls, to which they are respectively attached, is preferably of the order of approximately one-third of a right-angle' for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The top ends of the hook bafiles 22 and 23 rest against the top plate I4, while their lower ends rest upon the drain plate i5, whereby the pockets 3'! and 33 formed by the walls 35 and 36 and walls 34 and 35. respectively. are open only along their front right-angled vertical face. The pockets 33 formed by the walls 3! and 36 of the hook bailles 2i are likewise open along their front right-angled vertical face, and by reason of the openings 23 in the splash plate 58 are open at their lower ends. It will be noted that the preferred narrow- Y wise width of the pockets 3? and 33 is approximately that of one-half of the width of space between adjacent division walls, and that the open width of the pockets 35 is approximately that of the width of space between adjacent division walls, whereby the respective forewalls are practically in line along the centerline between any two division walls. Th signi anc of h p ciflc design of the bafile hooks 2i, 22, and 23 and their relation to adjacent elements will be more fully described hereinafter.

The casing structure I3 is a. built-up unitary structure and forms a mounting for the separating compartment I2 and in conjunction therewith establishes a settling chamber 40 within the separating compartment I2, and a drain pot chamber 4| just below the separating compartment I2. The casingstructure I3 comprises case side plates 42, back plate 43, bottom plate 44,

" drainpot front'plate 45, battle flange 46, case front lower flange 41, case front side flanges 43, case front top flange 49, top attaching flange 50, side attaching flanges 5 I, supports 52, lower attaching flanges 53, and drain pipe bosses 54. The case side p1ates 42, together with flanges 41, 48, and 49 re-enforced by the-flanges 50, 5| and front 40 plate form a frame within which, when the separating compartment I2 and the casing structure I3 are assembled together, the front end of the separating compartment I2 is supported. When thus assembled the rear end of the'separating-compartment I2 is supported upon the bottom plate 44 through the intermediary supports 52.

The drain pot chamber 4! is enclosed by the case side plates 42, back plate 43, bottom plate 44, and drain pot front plate 45 of the casing structure I3, and by the drain plate I5 of the separating compartment I 2. The rear of the settling chamber 40 is communicated with the rear of the drain pot chamber 4| by way of the openings 21 in the rear edge of the drain plate I5,

and by way of a dished channel 55 formed in they back plate 43. Bolt holes 56 in the attaching flanges 50, 5|, and 53, and in back plate 43 provide means for mounting the separator'unit It Within the evaporating and distilling apparatus 60. The back plate 43 closes off the lower portion of the rear of the separating compartment I2 thereby leaving a vapor outlet opening 51 of preferably the same height as the inlet opening 28, and also acts as the rear closing wall of the settling chamber 40.

In the Figure 5 the separator unit III has been shown diagrammatically and it will be understood that, reference numbers thereon refer to the equivalent structure in Figures 1 to 4, inelusive, hereinbefore described. For convenience the entrance separating elements are collectively indicated on Figure 5 by dot-and-dash ossed lines 58, and the interior separating elen' .i' 's are collectively indicated by dot-and-dash crowed lines 50. 1

' We now refer to Figure 5 whereinwe have shown in tic form our separator embodied in a modified apparatus of the type hereinbefore referred to and'whlch' in the original form is shown and described in detail in the betters Patent of the United States No. Re. 21,129,

and with respect to certain modifications involving the weir control is shown and described in the co-pending patent application Serial No. 441,-

184, filed April 30, 1942, by one Eugene Porter Worthen.

In Figure 5 the numeral 0| designates the Contained within the lower halves of the first effect evaporator chamber .62 and of the second efiect evaporator chamber 63 are the first effect heater 64 and the second eilect heater 65, respectively.

Within the first eiiect evaporator chamber 62 at the top thereof is the vapor feed heater chamber 66. Supported on an inner wall 61 of the chamber 66' is the first effect vapor separator III. The vapor feed heater chamber 66 communicates with the first effect evaporator chamber 62 through an orifice 08 in the wall 61 and through the separator elements 58 and 59. The separator I0 comprises the drain pot 4| and a discharge conduit 69 extending downwardly to the lower part of the chamber 62. The feed heater chamber '66 comprises a drain space 10 and a discharge conduit II to be hereinafter more fully described. Contained within the vapor feed heater chamber 66 is the first effect vapor feed heater 1!.

Within the second efiect evaporator chamber 63 at the top thereof is the distilling condenser chamber 13. Supported on an inner wall 14 of the chamber 13 is the second efiect vapor separator ID. The distilling condenser chamber 13 communicates with the second effect evaporator chamber 63 through an orifice 15 in the wall It and through the separator elements 58' and 59'. The separator I0 comprises the drain pot 4| and a discharge conduit I8 extending downwardly to the lower part of the chamber 63. The distilling condenser chamber 13 comprises a drain space I? and a discharge conduit I8 ,to be hereinafter more fully described. Contained within the distilling condenser chamber I3 is the distilling condenser I9.

The distilling condenser I9 comprises'aconduit having as an inlet 80 for sea-water that is to be evaporated and distilled and which conduit continues on through the distilling condenser chamber I3 as the condenser I9 to comprise a branch outlet connection conduit 8I and'a continuing connection conduit 82. Forming a part of the apparatus 60 is the air ejector condenser chamber 83. The conduit 82 passes through the chamber 83 as a heat exchange means therein and continues on as a conduit to comprises a branch outlet connection conduit 84 just outside the vapor feed heater chamber 68. The first effect vapor teed heater ,12 comprises a' conduit having as an inlet the continuing conduit 82 and which conduit continues onthrough the vapor feed heater chamber 66 as the first efiect vapor ieed heater 1! to an outlet conduit 85. The conduit 85 comprises a stop-valve 06 and a discharge connec-. tion 81 into the bottom of the first eflect evaporator chamber 52. I

The first efiect heater 64 comprises a conduit having an inlet 88 for steam and which conduit continues on through the lower half of the first eiiect evaporator chamber 62 as the heater 64 to an outlet connection 89.

Communicating with the interior of the vapor feed heater chamber 66 is outlet conduit 90 which continues on as an exterior conduit to enter the second effect evaporator chamber 63 as the inlet connection 9I to the second effect heater 65.

The second effect heater is also communicated with the drain space I0 by means of the discharge conduit II as an inlet and after continuing on through the lower half of the second effect evaporator chamber 63 it leaves the bottom thereof as an outlet conduit 92.

Air ejector 93 communicates with the top of the distilling condenser chamber I3 by means of conduit 94, and is supplied with operating steam through conduit 95. The air ejector 93 discharges to the air ejector condenser chamber 83 through conduit 96. ber 83 communicates with the atmosphere by means of outlet conduit 91, and is provided with a drain conduit 58.

Outlet conduit 99 communicates the bottom of the first effect evaporator chamber 62 with the first effect weir control 'unit I00. The hotwell I0| of the weir control unit I00 is communicated with the bottom of the'second effect evaporator chamber 63 through outlet I02, valve I03, and conduit I04.

Outletbonduit I05 communicates the bottom of they second effect evaporator chamber with the second effect weir control unit I00. The second effect weir control unit I00 is communicated with the pump I06 by means of. conduit I01.

The weir control units I00 and I00 are maintained in vapor pressure balance with their respective evaporator chambers 62 and 63 by means of conduits W8 and I09, respectively.

We will now describe the operation of our improved apparatus for evaporating and distilling sea-water as used on board ships. Water is pumped from the sea chest to the distilling condenser 19 by way of vthe conduit 18. After passing through the circulating conduit of the distilling condenser 19, where it serves its function as a cooling agent, a large part of the water is automatically deflected through the outlet conduit BI to be discharged overboard, while the remainder required for distilling purposes circulates through the circulating conduit 82 of the air ejector condenser chamber 83. Between the air ejector condenser chamber 83 and the vapor feed heater chamber to a branch outlet conduit 84 is provided in the conduit 82 to provide for an emergency discharge overboard. The conduit 02 becomes the circulating conduit of the first efiect vapor feed heater '12 in the chamber 66, and passing therefrom continues exterior ly of the apparatus .60 by way of conduit 85, valve 86, and conduit 8'! through which the distilling water is discharged into the bottom of the first 'eiIect The air ejector condenser chamevaporating chamber 82 .where it becomes the distilland thereof.

In the passage of the distilling water as just described heat has been accumulated therein from the distilling condenser chamber 13, the air ejector condenser chamber 83, and the vapor feed heater chamber 66. At the same time exhaust steam from the ship's auxiliaries is flowing into the inlet conduit 88 to and through the circulating conduit of the first'efl'ect heater 64; and discharges as condensate through the outlet con-' duit 89 to the ships drain tank (not shown).

The exhaust steam flowing through the heater 85 is sufficierjt to vaporize a portion of the distilland within the chamber 62. As the vapor rises from the surface of the distilland in chamber 62 it passes to the top thereof and enters the first effect vapor separator l0. Passing through the separator l the entrained water in the vapor is extracted and returned to the main body of thedistilland below.

We will now describe in greater detail the specific features of our invention in the method of operation of the evaporating and distilling apparatus that results from the embodiment therein of our separator characterized, as We have stated hereinbefore, by'its novel separating elements and by having in a single separating unit a plurality of qualitative drainage means.

As already set forth hereinbefore we hav provided in our separatora large number of separating elements mounted upon vertical division walls in such a manner that vapor passing through the separator from its inlet to its outlet is forced to travel in comparatively thin vertical streams between th division walls and by rea son of the staggered positioning of the separating elements the thin vertical treams are constrained to travel a gently sinuous path of shallow corrugated cross-section. This sinuous path is further characterized in that by reason of the length of the forewalls 3|, of the sloping walls 36, and of the length of division wall between each successive baflle hook th sinuou path is one broadly of a succession of short straight sections of flow alternately parallel toand sloped to the throughfiow line. These short straight sections of flow are important since they tend to project the entrained droplet and detritus quickly into the pockets from forward parallel flow and from the sloping flow the droplets are projected against the walls at a low angle of incidence so that atomization is minimized and the water attaches itself as a film to the wall surfaces and under the influence of the vapor flow is forced into the angle of the trapezium-shaped pockets where,

.the vapor flow being neutralized, the gathered liquid flows downward by force of gravity. It will also be noted that the advancing flow of saturated vapor through the separator at no time meets opposed surfaces to create atomization of the water droplets. Only the thin edges of the forewalls are opposed at a normal angle, the flow at all other points meets surfaces at a low angle of incidence. It should also be noted that the angle at which the outer surface of the baflle hooks change is so gradual that the water film thereon is not blown off to re-enter the vapor stream but adheres as'a film on the walls until gathered in the neutral angles of the pockets.

Our separator is also characterized by plural qualitative drains. As hereinbefore set forth the entrance baflle hooks 2! set off pockets 39 which areadapted to discharge from their bottom ends through openings in the splash plate l8 directly ignated in Figure 5 by dot-and-dash lines 59, as-

hereinbefore set forth, are adapted to drain from their bottom ends onto a drain plate, and discharge from the rear of the drain plate into'a drain pot and thence downward by pipe to the body of distilland below. Another feature, also hereinbefore set forth, is in setting oif'a lower third of the interior separating elements by means of front and rear walls to form a settling chamber of neutralized vapor flow to facilitate the drainage of the liquid entrained therein.

- These features of'plural qualitative drainage are very important and are the result of considerable experimentation and development work. We have found that in the usual design of separators with a singledischarge means the greater proportion of entrained liquid and detritus extracted occurs in-the first line of separating elements and that the flooding of these first separating elements detracts from the efficiency of the succeeding separating elements and from the tling chamber protected from the passing vapor stream and by having its liquid discharge only at the rear thereof. This latter arrangement was found to preclude picking up and carrying onward to the condensers moisture from the last rows of separating elements due to circulating currents of vapor.

Leaving the separator unit ill, the vapor now thoroughly purified, passes into the vapor feed heater chamber 66 and flows over and around the circulating conduit of the heater 12 thus heating the flowing distilling water therein. The condensate formed from the vapor during this heating of the distilling water is collected in the drain space ill and is discharged therefrom through the from the chamber 66 through the conduit 90, to

and through the circulating conduit of second effect heater 65, and forming condensate therein joins with the condensate received through conduit H from the vapor feed heater chamber 66 and both are discharged for use as freshwater through the outlet conduit 92.

We now come to that feature in our apparatus that is shown and described in the co-pending patent application Serial No. 441,184, filed April 30, 1942, by one Eugene Porter Worthen. This comprises the adjustable weir control means for controlling the distilling water-whereby all the distilling liquid coming from the first effect vapor feed heater I2 is passed through the apparatus in a constant flow without disturbing the height of levelof the distilland as selected by the operator of each effect. The height of level of the distilland in either effect may be-raised or lowered as desired without affecting the flow, or if desired the rate of flow may be modified without affecting the height, of level selected. The first the conduit 94 to the ai ejector 93.

eflect evaporator chamber 3 through conduit III, valve I, and conduit I. The level of the distilland in the second effect evaporator chamber 83 is maintained by the weir control device IOI' which receives the continuous fiow of excess distilland therefrom by means of the conduit "5 and discharges it to the pump I through the conduit I81.

A portion of the distilland in the second effect evaporator chamber 63 is vaporized by the heat of the vapor from the first eflect flowing through the second efi'ectheater 65 a herei'nbefore described. The vapor as it rises from the main body or distilland in the chamber 63 passes to the top thereof and enters the second eflect separator I00. Thi separator operates in the same manner as does separator I" for the first effect and need not be further described. Passing through the separator Hill the entrained water in the vapor is extracted and returned to the main body of the distilland below. The dried vapor passes on to the distilling condenser chamber 13 and flows over and around the circulating conduit of the heater 19 thus heating the distilling water therein. The condensate formed from the vapor during the heating of the distilling water is collected in the drain space 11 and is discharged for use therefrom through the discharge conduit 18. The dried vapor meanwhile fiows outward from the chamber I3 through The air ejector is functioned by a steam jet fed from a connection to the auxiliary steam line (not shown) and tends to create a vacuum in the distilling condenser chamber 13 thus acting to draw of! the remaining vapor as just described, and also to establish a pressure differential with respect to the first efiect evaporator chamber 62, which results in maintaining the feed water pressure flow, and in obtaining low pressure evaporation in the second efiect evaporator chamber 63. The air ejector 93 discharges by way of conduit 96 into the air ejectorcondenser chamber-83, where, in a manner well known to the art, the non-condensing vapor are exhausted to the atmosphere through the outlet conduit 91, and the condensate formed in the chamber 83 is discharged to the ship's drain tank (not shown) through the'drainconduit' 98. I

It will now be apparent that we have devised a novel apparatus for evaporating and distilling, especially applicable to marine purposes but it will be manifest that it is useful and valuablefor application to other fields. We have shown that by means of our improved design of separator we have provided a very compact and eificient device which when combined with the apparatus shown and described in the co-pending appli-' cation Serial No. 441,184, filed April 30, 1942, by one Eugene Porter Worthen, and herein incorporated has proven by actual tests to have doubled the productive capacity of a similar apparatus shown and described in the U. S; Patent No. Re. 2l,129, to which the Worthen application and the present one are improvements,

Although we have described and illustrated our invention in considerable detail, we do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details thereof as hown and described, but may use such modifications in, substitutions for, or equivalent then: of, as are embraced within the scope of our invention, or as are pointed out in the claims.

- Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 13: e, f

1. A multiple eflect evaporating and distilling apparatus, comprising a first compartment and a second compartment within a single container,

"each of said compartments being adapted to contain a body of liquid separated by a common well, each of said compartments having a liquid vaporizing portion and a vapor condensing chamber, a vapor separator unit communicating said liquid vaporizing portion with said vapor condensing'chamber, said vapor separator unit comprising a casing having plural qualitative drains for discharging entrained liquid to said liquid vaporizing portion and vertical division walls defining a plurality of narrow conduits passing through said separator, each said conduit comprising a plurality of fiat liquid intercepting forewalls disposed in spaced vertical relation approximately along the center-line plane of said conduit, the rear edges of the forewalls attached alternately to opposed adjacent division walls by a connecting wall having a low angle of incidence to said division walls, heater means within said first compartment for heating and vaporizing liquid therein, means for conveying feed liquid in preheat heat interchanging relationship successively with vapor in the vapor condensating portionof said second compartment and the vapor condensating portion of said first compartment whereby said vapors in both compartments are condensed while preheating said feed liquid, means for conveying feed liquid thus preheated into the liquid vaporizing portion of said first compartment and comprising means to control the operating rate of flow of said feed liquid to said first compartment in constant substantial excess of that removed by evaporatiori in said apparatus, means for conveying heated liquid from said first compartment into said second compartment and comprising a weir discharge means and a hotweil for receiving the excess liquid from said first compartment whereby the liquid level in said first compartment may be maintained regardless of the operating rate of liquid flow and a restraining means for said liquid flow, means for conveying vapor from said first compartment into heat interchanging relationship with the liquidin said second compartment for vaporizing liquidfthere in, means for collecting for use condensates formed in both said first and said second com-.

partments, means for maintaining a vapor pressure differential between the two compartments, and a, conduit system comprising a weir discharge means and a conduit for receiving the excess liquid flow from said second compart; ment whereby the liquid level in said compartment may be maintained regardless of the operatmg rate of liquid flow, and a pump to remove the liquid from the last mentioned conduit.

2. A multiple effect evaporating and distilling apparatus, comprising a first compartment and a second compartment within a single container, each of said compartments being adapted to contain a body of liquid separated by a common wall, each of said compartments having a liquid vaporizing portion and a vapor condensing chamber, a vapor separator unit communicating said liquid vaporizing portion with said vapor condensing chamber, said vapor separator unit comprising a casing having plural qualitative drains for discharging entrained liquid to said liquid vaporizing portion and. vertical division walls defining a plurality of narrow conduits passing through said separator, each said conduit comprising a plurality of fiatrliquid intercepting forewalls disposed in spaced vertical relation approximately along the center-line plane of said conduit, the

said vapors in-both compartments are condensed while preheating said feed liquid, means forconveying feed liquid thus preheated into the liquid vaporizing portion of said first compartment and comprising means to control the operating rate of flow of said feed liquid to said first compartment in constant substantial excess of that removed by evaporation in said apparatus, means for conveying heated liquid from said first compartment into said second compartment and comprising a, weir discharge means and a hotwell for receiving the excess liquid from said first compartment whereby the liquid level in said first compartment may be maintained regardless of the operating rate of liquid fiow and a restraining means for said liquid fiow, means for conveying vapor from said first compartment into heat interchanging relationship with the liquid in said second compartment for vaporizing liquid therein, means for collecting for use condensate formed in the vapor condensing portion of said second compartment, means for maintaining a vapor pressure difierential between the two compartments, and a conduit system comprising a weir discharge means and a conduit for receiving the excess liquid flow from said second compartment whereby the liquid level in said compartment may be maintained regardless of the operating rate of liquid flow,and a pump to remove the liquid from the last mentioned conduit.

3. A multiple effect evaporating and distilling apparatus, comprising a first compartment and a second compartment within a single container, each of said compartments being adapted to contain a body of liquid separated by a common wall, each of said compartments having a liquid vaporizing portion and a Vapor" condensing chamber, a vapor separator unit communicating said liquid vaporizing portion with said vapor condensing chamber, said vapor separator unit comprising a casing having plural qualitative drains for discharging entrained liquid to said liquid vaporizing portion, heater means within said first compartment for heating and vaporizing liquid therein, means for conveying feed liquid in preheat heat interchanging relationship successively with vapor in the vapor condensating portion of said second compartment and the vapor condensating portion of said first compartment whereby said vapors in both compartments are condensed while preheating said feed liquid, means for conveying feed liquid thus preheated into the liquid vaporizing portion of said first compartment and comprising means to control the operating rate of flow of said feed liquid to said first compartment in constant substantial excess of that removed by evaporation in said apparatus, means for conveying heated liquid from said first compartment 2,868,588 7 into said second compartment and comprising a weir discharge means and a hotwell for receiving the excess liquid from said first compartm'ent whereby the liquid level in said first compartment may be maintained regardless of the operating rate of liquid fiow and a restraining means forsaid liquid flow, means for conveying vapor from said first compartment into heat interchanging relationship with the liquid in said second compartment for vaporizing liquid therein, means for collecting for use condensates formed in both said first and said second compartments, means for maintaining a vapor pressure diflerential between the two compartments, and a conduit system comprising a weir discharge means and a conduit for receiving the excess liquid fiow from said second compartment whereby the liquid level in said compartment may be maintained regardless of the operating rate. of liquid flow, and a pump to remove the liquid from the last mentioned conduit.

4. A multiple effect evaporating and distilling apparatus, comprising a first compartment and a second compartment within a single container,

each of said compartments being adapted to contain a body of liquid separated by a common wall,

each of said compartments having a, liquid vaporizing portion and a vapor condensing chamber;

a vapor separator unit communicating said liquid vaporizing-portion with said vapor condensing chamber, said vapor separator unit comprising a casing having plural qualitative drains for discharging entrained liquid to said liquid vaporizing portion, heater means within said first compartment for heating and vaporizing liquid therein, means for conveying feed liquid in preheat heat interchanging relationship successively with vapor in the vapor condensating portion of said second compartment and the vapor condensating portion of said first compartment whereby said vapors in both compartments are condensed while preheating said feed liquid, means for conveying feed liquid thus preheated into the liquid vaporizing portion of said first compartment and comprising means to control the operating rate of fiow ofsaid feed liquid to said first compartment in constant substantial excess of that removed by evaporation in said apparatus, means for conveying heated liquid from said first compartment 7 into said second compartment and comprising a weir discharge means and a hotwell for receiving the excess' liquid from said first compartment whereby the liquid level in said first compartment may be maintained regardless of the operating rate of liquid flow and a restraining means for said liquid flow, means for conveying vapor from said first compartment into heat interchanging,

relationship withthe liquid in said second compartment for vaporizing liquid therein, means for collecting for use condensate formed in the vapor condensing portion of said second compartment, means for maintaining a vapor pressure diiferential between the two compartments. and a conduit system comprising aweir discharge means and aconduit for receiving the excess liquid flow from said second compartment whereby the liquid levelin said compartment may be maintained regardless of the operating rate of liquid flow, and a pump to remove the liquid from the last mentioned conduit.

5. A multiple effect evaporating and distilling apparatus, comprising a first compartment and a tain a body of liquid separated bya common wall, each of said compartments having a liquid vaporizing portion and a vapor condensing chamber, a vapor separator unit communicating said liquid vaporizing portion with said vapor condensing chamber, said vapor separator unit comprising a casing having plural'qualitative drains for discharging entrained liquid to said liquid vaporizing portion and vertical division walls defining a plurality of narrow conduits passing through said separator, each said conduit comprising a plurality of flat liquid intercepting forewalls disposed in spaced vertical relation approximately along the center-line plane of said conduit, the rear edges of the forewalls attached alternately to opposed adjacent division walls by a connecting Wall having a low angle of incidence to said division walls, heater means within said first compartmentior heating and vaporizing liquid therein, means for conveying feed liquid in preheat heat interchanging relationship successively with vapor in the vapor condensating portion of said second compartment and the vapor condensating portion of said first compartment whereby said vapors in both compartments are condensed while preheating said feed liquid, means for conveying feed liquid thus preheated into the liquid vaporizing portion of said first compartment, means for conveying heated liquid from said first compartment into said second compartment, means for conveying vapor from said first compartment into heat interchanging relationship with the liquid in said second compartment for vaporizing liquid therein, means for collectingfor use condensates formed in both said first and said second compartments, and means for maintaining a vapor pressure differential between the two compartments.

6. A multiple effect evaporating and distilling apparatus, comprising a first compartment and a second compartment within a single container,

each or said compartments being adapted to contain a body of liquid separated by a common wall, each of said compartments having a liquid vaporizing portion and a vapor condensing chamber, a vapor separator unit communicating said liquid vaporizing portion with said vapor condensing chamber, said vapor separator unit comprising a casing having plural qualitative drains for discharging entrained liquid to said liquid vaporizing portion and vertical division walls defining a plurality of narrow conduits passing through said separator, each said conduit comprising a plurality of flat liquid intercepting forewalls disposed in spaced vertical relation approximately along the center-line plane of said conduit, the rear 'edges of the forewalls attached alternately to opposed adjacent division walls by a connecting wall having a low angle of incidence to said division walls. heater means within said first compartment for heating and vaporizing liquid therein, means for conveying feed liquid in preheat heat interchanging relationship successively with vapor in the vapor condensating portion of said second compartment and the vapor condensating portion of said first compartment whereby said vapors in both compartments are condensed while preheating said feed liquid, means for conveying feed liquid thus preheated into the liquid vaporizing portion of said first compartment, means for conveying heated liquid from said first compartment into said second compartment, means for conveying vapor from said first compartment into heat interchanging relationship with the liquid in said second compartment for vaporizing liquid therein, means for collecting for use condensate formed in the vapor condensing portion of said second compartment, v

and means formaintaining a vapor pressure dif- -ferential between the two compartments.

EUGENE PORTER WORTHEN. FENNER s. BARBOUR. STEPHEN ROGER PUTNAM. 

